Paul Merson fears “top drawer” star could leave Chelsea as he warns “watch this space” | OneFootball

Paul Merson has warned Chelsea they might not be able to offer Cole Palmer what he wants after they lost against Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Blues slipped to a 2-1 loss after a Marco Asensio second half double cancelled out Enzo Fernandez’s opener, the second of which came as a result of a howler by Filip Jorgensen in the 89th minute.

The result means Chelsea are now on a run of two wins in their last ten league matches and Enzo Maresca’s men continue to fall down the table, and face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League.

Merson warns Chelsea over Palmer

Maresca switched things up against Villa, with Reece James deployed in midfield, with Palmer playing on the right hand side of the attack, which Christopher Nkunku on the left and Pedro Neto down the middle.

Palmer had a quiet first half, but was far more influential in the second and missed a huge opportunity in the second half which could have won Chelsea the game, whilst he was surprisingly the only Blue to win more than 50% of his duels.

The 22-year-old is showing signs of frustration in recent weeks, although is own form hasn’t been good enough, with the attacker now goalless in his last six games in all competitions.

Palmer hasn’t scored on his last six games for Chelsea.

However, Merson has warned Chelsea they might not be able to offer Palmer the Champions League football that he desperately wants.

“With all these big squads they’ve got, and they’ve put people on seven [or] eight-year contracts, I don’t know how this is all going to pan out,” Merson said on Sky Sports as quoted by Football 365.com.

“If they finished outside the Champions League this year Palmer will want to being playing Champions League football.

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“He’s getting to the stage where, you know, the lad’s top drawer, so he’ll want to be playing Champions League, watching Champions League. Watch this space if they don’t get into the top five.”

There’s not thought to be any exit clauses in Palmer’s contract allowing him to leave if the Blues don’t qualify for the Champions League, but the Blues need him to return to form against Southampton on Tuesday.